Paiwan Tribe’s music includes instrumental and vocals, with more preference towards vocal music.However, Paiwan Tribe has also developed good instrumental music and a common instrument was the straight flute, which is further divided into mouth or nose flutes.Mouth flutes were played by peasants while nose flutes were only played by royalty, and each flute type may be single or double-barreled.

　　In traditional Paiwan life the flutes had both practical and entertainment values. During hunts or battles the flutes were used to transmit information, and at nighttime the men would gather together to play flutes for fun. Flutes were even used during courtship to convey romantic intentions.

　With regards to songs, the techniques utilized were diverse and complex and the expression of polyphones were spectacular. Generally, the song type depended on the timing of singing and the song’s content, and they include:

• Festival:Prayer for peace and elimination of evil and diseases – only female wizards may sing this.
• Work:Sang when working in the wild and describes the hardship and rewards of work, the achievements in hunts and bravery in battles.
• Prayer:To express the good deeds and beauty of the groom and bride at weddings.
• Love:Duet between a man and woman to profess their love.
• Nursery Rhyme:Include songs of numerals, tongue-twisters and toys.



lai su (Paiwan Tribe Old Song)

(play)

i yi su
la pu lu a ti ma i ma nga i yai su

Translation:Everyone is poor, but none more than me.
gai ti la pu lu a nay a i yai su I ya I su ui na i
Translation:Ai! Poor person can only despair in misery and self-pity.
la de na ge ni gi na uta i yai su i ya i su ui na i si na vi da ne tu sa iw
Translation:Mother gave birth to me to live this poor life.
si na ma za ne ni li ma ya i yai su i ya i su ui na i sa ke ke ka i gu la nga
Translation:I hate this world for raising me in poverty.

Researched and recorded by: Hsiao-ning, Hsiao-rong, Hsiao-rou, Hsiao-wen



Top